HomeMy WebLinkAbout2020-12-15-minutes-200pm-public-hearing12/15/2020 MINUTES 1
COMMISSIONERS' MINUTES KITTITAS COUNTY, WASHINGTON WEBEX SPECIAL MEETING
TUESDAY 2:00 P.M. DECEMBER 15, 2020
Board members present via WebEx: Chairman Brett Wachsmith; Vice-
Chairman Laura Osiadacz; and Commissioner Cory Wright.
Others: Julie Kjorsvik, Clerk of the Board; Mandy Buchholz, Deputy
Clerk of the Board II; Neil Caulkins, Deputy Prosecutor; Doug
Fessler, Network Administrator; Benjamin West, Director of Airport
Operations; Ken Grannan, Airport Coordinator; Dan Carlson, CDS
Director; and approximately 15 members of the public.
This meeting was provided to the public via WebEx and they were
previously notified on the Agenda as to where they could access and
provide public comments.
PUBLIC HEARING ABERLE AG LEASE AIRPORT
At 2:00 p.m. CHAIRMAN WACHSMITH opened a Public Hearing to consider
amending Dennis and Jay Aberle’s Agriculture Lease.
KEN GRANNAN, AIRPORT COORDINATOR provided a Staff Report and details
of a proposed Amendment to an Agriculture Lease between Kittitas
County and Dennis and Jay Aberle for a 1-year extension from
December 1, 2020 to November 30, 2021.
THERE BEING NO ONE REQUESTING TO TESTIFY, THE PUBLIC COMMENT PORTION OF THE HEARING WAS CLOSED. RESOLUTION 2020-211 ABERLE AG LEASE AIRPORT VICE-CHAIRMAN OSIADACZ moved to approve Resolution No. 2020-211,
Amending the Aberle Grazing Lease and to authorize the Chairman to
sign the Lease Amendment. COMMISSIONER WRIGHT seconded. Motion
carried 3-0.
PUBLIC HEARING BLAZING TREE CATTLE CO. AG LEASE AIRPORT
At 2:09 p.m. CHAIRMAN WACHSMITH opened a Public Hearing to consider
amending the Blazing Tree Cattle Company Agriculture Lease.
KEN GRANNAN, AIRPORT COORDINATOR provided a Staff Report and details
of a proposed Amendment to an Agriculture Lease between Kittitas
County and the Blazing Tree Cattle Company, for a 1-year extension
from December 1, 2020 through November 30, 2021.
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THERE BEING NO ONE REQUESTING TO TESTIFY, THE PUBLIC PORTION OF THE HEARING WAS CLOSED. RESOLUTION 2020-212 BLAZING TREE CATTLE COMPANY AIRPORT VICE-CHAIRMAN OSIADACZ moved to approve Resolution No. 2020-212,
Amending the Blazing Tree Cattle Company Grazing Lease, and to
authorize the Chairman to sign the Lease Amendment. COMMISSIONER WRIGHT seconded. Motion carried 3-0. PUBLIC HEARING STRAND AG LEASE AIRPORT
At 2:13 p.m. CHAIRMAN WACHSMITH opened a Public Hearing to consider
amending the Victor Strand Agriculture Lease.
KEN GRANNAN, AIRPORT COORDINATOR provided a Staff Report and details
of a proposed Amendment to an Agriculture Lease between Kittitas
County and Victor Strand, for a 1-year extension from December 1,
2020 through November 30, 2021. He provided information on a water
right that runs inside the aeronautical fence that provides water to
the land currently leased by the Strands and access.
THOSE PRESENT & TESTIFYING: JOHN REEVES said he appreciated the
County taking the opportunity to work on better usage of water. VICTOR STRAND said they have been leasing from the airport for over
35 years and how he had some issues relating to the proposed
language in the lease. He said the current cattle market is under
problems and the 3% increase will hurt them. He commented on the
issues relating water and irrigation issues, as well as how the
value of acreage needs to be considered. LINDA STRAND said there
needs to be a difference between scheduled butchering and emergency
kills and they are not able to give 48-hour notice at time. During
calving season, they try to get them the farthest away from the
airfield as possible. She said there was no risk for fire with the
cattle on the land. THERE BEING NO OTHERS REQUESTING TO TESTIFY, THE PUBLIC PORTION OF THE HEARING WAS CLOSED.
MR. GRANNAN said by taking cattle off the land it does not change
the water flow and it will continue to transition to the property as
it currently does. He met with the Strands and he understands they
cannot give 48-hour notice of emergency kill’s, and the County is
just asking them to act in best course action possible. He explained
how their intent is to mitigate water.
The Board had additional questions relating to the Kittitas
Reclamation District and water and indicated their desire to
continue the Public Hearing for another 2 weeks before making a
decision.
12/15/2020 MINUTES 3
CHAIRMAN WACHSMITH moved to continue the Public Hearing to January
5, 2021 at 2:00 p.m. noting the record was closed. COMMISSIONER OSIADACZ seconded. Motion carried 3-0. PUBLIC HEARING MARIAN MEADOWS CDS
At p.m. CHAIRMAN WACHSMITH opened the Public Hearing continued from
October 6, 2020 to consider the Marian Meadows Development
Agreement. He noted the record was closed.
COMMISSIONER OSIADACZ announced she would be recusing herself from
the Public Hearing due to the Appearance of Fairness Doctrine and
left the meeting.
DAN CARLSON, CDS DIRECTOR nothing new to add since the Public
Hearing and record was closed.
WRIGHT Section 6, 7 & 8 wanted clarification; provision of water to
Easton Water District;
NEIL CAULKINS – answered questions.
WRIGHT – remand back to applicant for discussion on mitigation for
impacts to Fire District #3 section 6. WACHSMITH seconded.
WRIGHT appreciated everyone’s comments. We are trying to balance
needs of community with project – land that is not from an out of
town entity as it’s a family to invest and provide with their own
family moving forward. Understanding mitigation from impacts –
enter into good faith negotiation. Important to show there was work
on both sides to have some type of negotiated agreement from start.
Can’t find in record enabling Ordinance 11.4.2 Section – 20 year
planned build out Fire District needs to understand it’s not going
to happen in the next coupleof years. Future growth with Puget
Sound region coming over with people wanting to raise their families
here. Need to have the inventory necessary.
Motion carried 2-0.
2:57 p.m.
The meeting was adjourned at
KITTITAS COUNTY COMMISSIONERS CLERK OF THE BOARD KITTITAS COUNTY, WASHINGTON
12/15/2020 MINUTES 4
Julie Kjorsvik Brett Wachsmith, Chairman